The development of the nerves of the small intestine was studied in 26 human fetuses with the gestational age of 11 to 40 weeks.The findings are as follows:(1)The distance between the Auerbach's ganglia and the muscular layer is small in the early fetal period and it increases progressively as the fetus grows.(2)The density of neuropils increases gradually.(3)The number of large gradual vacuoles (LGV) is small in the 3rd month of gestation,and it increases gradually and is quite numerous in the 6th month.(4)The morphology of the synapses is not so typical as that of an adult.(5)The peak values of the stereological morphological parameters of the organelles in the neurons appear between the 4th-6th month and maintain at a relatively high level until the baby is bron.

Objective To investigate the effect of estrogen on gliosis, synaptic proliferation and reorganization in hippocampus of rats with chronic epilepsy induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, PTZ kindling epilepsy group, estrogen+PTZ group and estrogen +Tamoxifen (mixed estrogen antagonist)+PTZ group. The PTZ kindling epilepsy group was intraperitoneally injected with 35 mg/kg PTZ once a day, then the behavior of the rats in one hour was observed. The estrogen interfered group was intramuscluarly injected of 0.6 ?g/kg ?-estradiol 6 h before PTZ injection, 1/3 d. The estrogen+Tamoxifen interfered group was injected of Tamoxifen into lateral cerebral ventricle 1 h before estrogen injection. If the severe epileptic seizures occurred three times, the rats were ready for detecting the expression of filial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (P38) by immunohistochemical technique. Results Epileptic seizure occoured earlier and more severely in most rats of estrogen interfered group than no estrogen interfered group. Rats in all model groups were found more astrocyte proliferation and positive synaptophysin staining, especially in the CA2, CA3 and hilar areas of dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus than control group. Estrogen+Tamoxifen interfered group showed significant difference as compared with other groups (P

Thermophilic and alkalophilic xylanases have great potential in the pulp bleaching industry. In order to improve the thermal stability of an alkaline family 11 xylanase Xyn11A-LC, aromatic residues were introduced into the N-terminus of the enzyme by rational design. The mutant increased the optimum temperature by 5 degrees C. The wild type had a half-time of 22 min at 65 degrees C and pH 8.0 (Tris-HCl buffer). Under the same condition, the mutant had the half-time of 106 min. CD spectroscopy revealed that the melting temperature (T(m)) values of the wild type and mutant were 55.3 degrees C and 67.9 degrees C, respectively. These results showed that the introduction of aromatic residues could enhance the thermal stability of Xyn11A-LC.
Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases ; chemistry ; Enzyme Stability ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Protein Engineering ; Temperature

BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (CDK-5) is one of the members in cyclin-dependent protein kinase family. The attention has being drawn by researchers on the relationship between the expression and distribution of CDK-5 mRNA and its protein in the brain during brain development and neural degeneration in thought-cognition.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the influence of CDK-5 on neurogeny and neural degeneration during cerebral development.DESIGN: Single factor analysis of variance.SETTING: Histological and Embryological Department and Neurobiological Department in Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Histological and Embryological Department and Neurobiological Department in Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. Twenty-five Wistar rats of 5 phases were employed, named embryonicphase (E8-E21), neonatal phase (P0-P15),childhood (P16-2 months), grown-up phase (＞ 2 months) and senile phase (＞ 8 months), 5 rats in each group.METHODS: In situ hybridization histochemistry (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was adopted in brain sections from embryonic phase to senile phase.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURFS: Distribution and expression of positive cells of CDK-5 mRNA and protein in various brain areas.RESULTS: Twenty-five rats entered result analysis for all. ① The expression of CDK-5 mRNA presented in entire development from E14 to P350and was in tendency of stability after growth-up. CDK-5 mRNA localized mainly in neurons and positive regions distributed mainly in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebellum and a part of nerve nuclei. ② The expression of CDK-5 was strong after birth and it was weaker in embryonic and senile rats. Positive regions concentrated mainly in peripheral ventricle, hippocampus, cerebellum and a part of nerve nuclei.The expression only presented in hippocampus and Purkinje cellular layer of cerebellum in senile rats.CONCLUSION: CDK-5 in brain runs through entire phases of neural development, it expresses more significantly in neonatal phase and childhood and declines after growth-up, especially in senile phase. The declined expression of CDK-5 in hippocampus of senile rats is closely associated with decline of learning and memory in senility probably.

Objective　To evaluate the effect of Naogongfude (NGFD, a traditional Chinese medicine orally administrated) on learning and memory and the expressions of synaptophysin (SY) and Tau-protein in cerebral cortex and hippocampus in aged rats and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods　Rats were divided into normal and neural disturbance groups according to the outcomes of active avoidance reaction (AAR) test, and then each group was randomly divided into control and NGFD-treated experimental groups. Animals were orally fed with NGFD for 2 months (5 ml/d) in experimental group or routinely fed in control and taken AAR and passive avoidance reaction (PAR) tests. After the rats were sacrificed, the synaptosome count, the expression of SY and Tau-protein, and the neuron apoptosis in cerebrum were examined. Results　The rats after 2-month NGFD administration had an increased AAR acquisition, obviously delayed AAR extinction and prolonged step through latency (STL) of PAR. The number of synaptosomes was raised and the immunoreactive intensity of synaptophysin was increased remarkedly, while Tau-protein immunoreactivity and apoptotic cells were decreased in cerebrum. Conclusion　NGFD does have the effect of improving brain function and putting off the aging of rat brain according to the results of behavior study and morphological observation.

Objective To assess the efficacy of ganciclovir to prevent and cure cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after renal transplantation. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SCI, China Academic Journals Full-text Databases, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Databases and Chinese Medical Association Journals to collect randomized controlled trials of ganciclovir to prevent and cure CMV infection after renal transplantation (up to June, 2009). Two reviewers extracted data independently using a designed extraction form. The quality of included trials was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook. RevMan 5.0 software was used for data analysis. Results Twelve randomized controlled trials were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: ①Compared with no receive antiviral agents, ganciclovir couldn't lower CMV infection rate and disease rate in 3 months and 6 months after renal transplantation, but could lower CMV disease rate in 12 months. The delay between transplantation and CMV infection was significantly longer. ②Either valaciclovir or ganciclovir could lower CMV infection rate and disease rate after renal transplantation, without statistical difference. ③Compared with acyclovir, ganciclovir could lower CMV disease rate in 6 months after renal transplantation. ④Compared with CMV-IgG and valganciclovir, ganciclovir didn't have statistical difference in decreasing CMV disease rate (P=0.93;P=0.14). Conclusions Longer prophylaxis by ganciclovior may prevent CMV infection after renal transplantation. Its curative effect is similar to valaciclovir, CMV-IgG and valganciclovir, but better than acyclovir.

Objective To measure the estrogen concentration of estrogen (E 2) in the culture medium of rat astrocytes (ASTs). Methods Astrocytes in brain cortex of the 2-day-old neonatal rats were collected and cultured. The number of astrocytes was counted and the concentration of estrogen was measured by ELISA method at 0, 7, 14, and 21 d after culture. Results The cell counts were 1?10 4/ml, 1.1?10 6/ml, 1.4?10 6/ ml, and 1.5?10 6/ml, respectively. The concentrations of E 2 were: 0 pg/ml, (117.03?21.32) pg/ml, (266.91?22.03) pg/ml, and (252.62?27.99) pg/ml, respectively. No estrogen was detected in the primary culture medium. The concentration of estrogen increased in a time-dependent manner and reached the peak at 14 d, and then decreased gradually but remained at a certain level. Conclusion E 2 is secreted by astrocytes in the brain cortex of the 2-day-old neonatal rats.

Carrying out researches in urban community health service centers can effectively promote the improvement of management system, the cultivation of talents and the formation of characteristic service, leading to the institutional development.This paper summarizes the role and significance of researches in promoting the overall development of urban community health service center in order to provide reference for the relevant medical institutions based on the experiences in Shanghai Fenglin Community Health Service Center.

Objective To investigate the effect of noggin on BrdU labeled cells in the adult rat hippocampus. Methods The expressions of noggin and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) in rat hippocampus were detected using in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). By using antisense technique combined with bromodeoxyuridine!(BrdU) labeling, the effect of noggin on hippocampal neurogenesis in adult rats was explored. Results The number of noggin mRNA positive cells in the adult rat hippocampus decreased significantly after treatment with antisense noggin but no change was found in the number of BMP4 mRNA positive cells. In addition, the number of BrdU labeled cells decreased significantly in the adult rat hippocampus after treatment with antisense noggin, but the sense noggin had no such effect. Conclusion Noggin can promote proliferation of neural precursor cells in adult rat hippocampus.

Objective To observe the expression changes of noggin mRNA and BMP4 mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats at different stages. Methods The expressions of noggin mRNA and BMP4 mRNA were analyzed by the method of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR).Results It was revealed that the level of noggin mRNA in the frontal cortex decreased significantly in P1W rats but high level of BMP4 mRNA was detected in P1M and P3M rats. The expressions of noggin mRNA and BMP4 mRNA in the hippocampus showed the opposite expression pattern. The peak of noggin mRNA expression in the hippocampus was found in E13 and E16 rats. The expression of noggin mRNA decreased gradually but that of BMP4 mRNA in hippocampus increased gradually during the developmental stage. The peak of the expression of BMP4 mRNA was found in P1M rats. Conclusion There are expressions of noggin mRNA and BMP4 mRNA in the frontal cortex and hippocampus in rats at different developmental stages. The expression level is closely correlated with the developmental age. This indicates that noggin and BMP4 play important roles in the development of rat frontal cortex and hippocampus.